What do we know about Hank Johnson? (beat McKinney)

[helderheid]

[KingFlorez]

1. He doesn't support immediate withdrawal from Iraq

[RufusEarl]

2. That's a great question, he's an unknown to me !

[helderheid]

3. me as well. I'm bummed about Ms. McKinney (though still giddy

about Lamont!)

[itzamirakul]

4. From what news readers say, he is supposedly a nicer, kinder

version of McKinney. I am so sorry that she lost. I think we lost the last honest voice that had the pure guts to accuse the Republican administration of having a hand in 911. No one else has the guts to do that.

He will probably be the moderate Democrat that so many Republicans want us all to be. What do we know about him? The answer really is...Does anyone care? As long as he isn't McKinney...

Ms. McKinney: My hat is off to you for trying so hard and being willing to stand alone in your beliefs.
May you get a good job at a liberal college and continue to be a role model for young women of all stripes in America. Because one thing is for sure..you won't be offered one of those high-paying jobs provided to other ex-legislators because the Corporate Lobby cannot stand you.

[RufusEarl]

11. Well the good folks of Georgia have made their decision,

for now thats good enough for me.

[helderheid]

12. yea, but I don't trust their machines.

[noonwitch]

13. As far as the last honest voice goes, we still have Conyers

He's just not a very good speaker, is all.

[MessiahRp]

5. I watched part of his televised debate w/ McKinney on CSPAN...

Seems like a perfect Chuck Schumer Washington-insider type of guy. Does not want withdrawal of troops, blind allegiance to Israel, etc...


I must say also the televised moderators did seem very biased when they asked pointed/loaded questions to McKinney and simple light questions to Johnson.

For example they asked her if the US should pick a side between Hezbollah and Israel to get her to say she chose Hezbollah (which she didn't, she just repeated that we should be even handed) and then asked Johnson only if Israel has the right to defend itself.

It seemed the entire evening they were trying to play "gotcha!" with her.

Rp

[RufusEarl]

6. I did a quick search and came up with this piece,

from the Daily Kos. It may help to understand Mr. Johnson a bit better, but it's only one story.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/8/4/10362/15018

[rinsd]

7. I love it the campaign never ends. A BS diary repeating McKinney TPs?

You might as well have linked to her own campaign blog.

[im10ashus]

8. Here's a link from Kos someone just gave me.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/6/173637/0320

15 Reasons to Quit Cynthia McKinney- A Local Perspective. Open Thread with Poll.

[insane_cratic_gal]

9. He was GA's choice

that's all I need to know.

If your crowing about Joe running as an independent because he won't support the nomination then you can't crow over McKinney's loss.(not directed at the OP but comments made in the thread)

I think she's a great woman, but her reputation (thanks to her behavior and the media) got away from her.

A lot of our own still support this war so you can't fault him for his support, we don't know if he wants a timetable for Iraq?

[WI_DEM]

16. I agree

I've heard she didn't connect with her constituents despite her opposition to the war.

[Jacobin]

10. Funding is interesting:

Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney’s primary run-off opponent has tapped into the pro-Israel fundraising network . . . Seven pro-Israel PACs gave to Johnson on Tuesday: MOPAC in Michigan, Washington PAC in D.C., SUNPAC and National Action Committee PAC in Florida, CITYPAC in Chicago, Mid-Manhattan PAC in New York and Louisiana for American Security PAC.

http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/080206/mckinney.html

http://billmon.org/archives/002659.html

[rinsd]

14. He'll be fine. His politics could be described as moderate/progressive

He's for universal health care. He's against the Patriot act and wiretapping w/out warrant BS.

He considers Roe V Wade the law of the land and supports a woman's right to choose though he wants a better family support network so abortions are more rare(read: the more economically empowered the less one may abort for financial reasons).

He thinks the war is wrong but is against immediate withdraw.

He was involve in sprawl and enviromental issues as a commisioner.

The biggest differences between him and McKinney policy wise would probably be free trade (he seems to be pro) and the war (Mckinney being a more vocal opponent of and her position of immediate withdraw).

Hope that helps.

[bigtree]

15. he looks too cautious to make any difference

He'll have to become more confrontational and animated if he's to force any change in the direction of that club. Moderation in the House is appeasment of the reich-wing

[Freddie Stubbs]

17. McKinney accomplished nothing despite her brash style

Perhaps a more mature approach would be more successful.

[bigtree]

18. She spoke truth to power.

That's as mature as it gets. We should not begin our debate in the 'middle'. The House of Representatives is the pulse of our democracy because of the closeness of the legislators to their constituents. Our democracy will not be well served by moderation in defense of our basic rights and liberties. There has been too much compromising and co-opting of the republican agenda. There has to be a clean break fro their politics of privelege, corporatism, and militarism. That effort will take more than measured platitudes to the opposition.

Cynthia McKinney will be missed.


You know, I can't recall ANY of the animosity toward her fellow Democrats coming from Rep. McKinney that I have seen here. Maybe I missed it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. Apperently the voters in her district wanted results rather that just talk

[bigtree]

23. her record is a moot point

It's up to Johnson now to establish his own relevancy, apart from his campaign against McKinney.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. I agree

He will have to stand by that record in two years.

[alfredo]

21. that might change after he raises his right hand. Being a

freshman in the house mean you won't see much from him unless he gets a couple good appointments.

[Rainscents]

19. Here you go...

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1017.shtml

Democrats knows very little about him.

[LittleClarkie]

22. From his campaign site, he seems like a decent fellow

Not quite anti-war enough for some. He says that the war is wrong, but doesn't advocate immediate withdrawl. Stood next to McKinney, he looked like a flaming Conservative I guess. But he seems like a fairly decent Dem.

And as others have said, he's also Georgia's choice.

But I think we shall see what he does once he gets into office. I will judge him by his actions, not by the fact that he dared to run against a Dem that many here liked.